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Saturday, February 20, 2010

Black News: Marley Family Livid Over New Book Release

Bob Marley is embroiled in a fiery debate with a Las Vegas-based publisher over alleged unauthorized changes to the cover and title of his recently released memoir which threatens to taint the near-perfect image of reggae music royalty, the Marleys. Ky-Mani Marley, a Grammy Award-nominated reggae and hip-hop artist, penned "Dear Dad: Where's the family in our family, today?'' which was released this month by Farrah Gray Publishing in celebration of Marley's 65th birthday. The issue between author and publisher lies mainly in the extra coverline: "The Story The Marley Family Apparently Doesn't Want You To Know.'' In an online statement, Ky-Mani says the caption is unauthorized: "I did NOT authorize him to make any changes to the cover of my book, nor do I condone any of the captions he has written!'' Further, Ky-Mani told The Gleaner, a Jamaican newspaper, that he was considering legal action against the Gray, saying he simply wanted to tell his story without causing any conflict. He told the newspaper the title was changed from "Dear Dad: The Marley Son Who Persevered From The Streets To Prominence." But Dr. Farrah Gray, the publisher, stands by the book, saying he worked with Marley every step of the way. He said that Marley wrote the book using a ghostwriter and the interviews were recorded. "I didn't write his book,'' Gray told BV on Books. "I published it. He did the final edit. Now he's issuing a statement that he didn't approve it...for those of us who believe in one love, Ky-Mani Marley's story deserves light. He's throwing me under the bus and going on a smear campaign, but I have the tapes. The tapes are worse and he doesn't want those publicized.''